Kyogen

Kyōgen scripts have two types: scripts for ai-kyōgen, an interlude performed during noh plays, and hon-kyōgen, independent kyōgen plays. Unlike noh, kyōgen is less text-based, and had neither detailed written texts nor authorized scripts by iemoto (heads of the schools) until the 17^th century. Tenshō kyōgenbon (16^th century), the earliest extant script today, includes simple plot summaries rather than word-by-word transcription of the lines spoken on stage. What can be called scripts today were not available until Ōkura Torakiyo (1566-1646) and his son Tora’akira (1597-1662) compiled books that included detailed dialogue and stage directions. The writing of treatises also started around this era with Tora’akira. This limited emphasis on text is related to kyōgen’s original nature which incorporates improvisation, vernacular locutions, or popular songs of the day into the performance. While authorized kyōgen scripts in later years reveal the formalization of performance, illustrated kyōgen texts were also published by non-mainstream practitioners, indicating the popularity of kyōgen.

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  Title:

  Tenshō kyōgen book

  Title (jp):

  Tenshō kyōgenbon  天正狂言本

  Description:

  ––

  Collection name:

  Noh Theatre Research Institute

  Volume:

  1

• 

  Title:

  Illustrated Script of Kyogen

  Title (jp):

  Kyōgenki  狂言記　

  Description:

  ––

  Collection name:

  Hosei University Kōzan Collection

  Volume:

  5

  View all